Marten Scheffer: Dynamical Systems Theory and Belief Traps, Irrationality, and Mental Health

Marten Scheffer is a Dutch mathematician and ecologist who has made major contributions to modeling of complex systems. While he is best known for his work on catastrophic shifts in ecosystems and climate, he has more recently been applying dynamical systems theory to major brain-based problems of individual brains (e.g., belief traps and mental illness) and societies (e.g., inequality and fragility of democracies). Here I talk with Marten about features of dynamical systems – tipping points, basins of attraction, resilience…) and how systems modeling can be used to understand, evaluate, and intervene in detrimental ways of thinking and interacting with others.  

Links:

Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems: file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/35098000.pdf

Early warning signals: file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/nature08227%20(1).pdf

Belief traps: file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/pnas.2203149119%20(1).pdf

Cognitive distortions: file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/pnas.2102061118.pdf

Shifts in rationality in language: file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/pnas.2107848118.pdf